Despite strong pitching, Eagles manage just a split with East Central

Saturday, Mar 16, 2013

Garrett Stephenson had a pair of two-run doubles during OC's doubleheader split Saturday with East Central.

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 16, 2013) – Oklahoma Christian picked up strong starting pitching performances from Luke Sandoval and Kelby Reneau, but the Eagles managed only a split of a doubleheader against East Central on Saturday at Dobson Field.

Sandoval pitched a complete-game three-hit shutout as OC won the opener 5-0, but the Tigers were able to parlay one big inning into a 3-2 win over Reneau and the Eagles in the second game

Sandoval (4-0) was masterful, striking out two batters and walking two. East Central (6-19) didn’t manage to get two runners on base in the same inning until the seventh.

Jordan Lopez’s two-run double in the third off East Central starter Robert Buitrago (0-5) gave Sandoval all of the run support he needed. The Eagles added three more runs in the sixth, with two of those scoring on a double by Garrett Stephenson.

OC (15-9) didn’t produce quite as much offense in the second game. Stephenson had another two-run double in the fourth to put the Eagles ahead 2-0, but that was one of only five OC hits off ECU starter Gabriel Martinez (4-2).

Reneau (1-1) ran into trouble in the fifth inning, giving up four of the hits he allowed. Benny Woodard’s RBI single cut OC’s lead to 2-1 and three batters later, Josh Lavender singled to right field to bring home two more runs and put the Tigers ahead.

Martinez retired the last 10 OC batters he faced to seal the win for ECU.